Tony Allen, the six-time All-Defensive guard and self-proclaimed “Grindfather” of the Memphis Grizzlies’ Grit-and-Grind era, has never been shy about his defensive philosophy. Defense, to him, wasn’t just a skill, it was an identity. And in his eyes, that identity is fading in today’s NBA.
Speaking recently on the No Limit Podcast, Allen didn’t hold back when asked about the state of modern defenses. His main critique? A lack of effort compared to previous eras.
“It’s been hard for me because I don’t like how they play pick-and-roll now,” Allen said. “That sag action, to me, I thought that was a lazy way of playing defense. Back then, it was about fighting over screens, showing, recovering, helping the helper. That forced multiple efforts. Now, it feels like one or two actions and you’re done.”
Allen specifically called out the prevalence of drop coverage; where big men hang back near the rim to protect against drives, conceding mid-range jumpers. While analytically sound, Allen sees it as a shortcut that sacrifices the grit and grind of true defensive possessions.
In his era, defenders were expected to chase shooters over screens, rotate, recover, and contest until the shot clock expired. That relentless cycle of “multiple efforts,” Allen argues, is what separated great defenses from average ones.
Of course, the modern NBA presents challenges Allen didn’t face as often. Today’s offenses are built around spacing, three-point shooting, and playmakers who can punish even the smallest defensive lapse. Guards like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson thrive in the mid-range, while wings like Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard feast on the very shots drop coverage allows.
Still, Allen’s point resonates with fans who miss the physical, grind-it-out style of the 2000s and early 2010s. Back then, defense wasn’t just about schemes, it was about pride.
Allen’s words carry weight because he embodied the defensive mindset he now sees slipping away. In Memphis, he became the face of a culture that valued toughness, resilience, and effort above all else. His battles with Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and other elite scorers are still remembered as masterclasses in defensive intensity.
Whether or not today’s players agree with him, Allen’s critique is a reminder that defense, at its core, is about more than analytics. It’s about willpower. And in his eyes, that’s the part of the game that’s in danger of being lost.
